No one knew I was gay growing up but I was bullied. I was a cheerleader, fairly popular and considered straight.

I know growing up as a young gay person how much you hate yourself, how much you already think you're different.

When I was growing up in Mississippi - it was good Southern food... but I also grew up with a Greek family; when other kids were eating fried okra, we were eating steamed artichokes. So I think it played a big part in my healthy cooking.

Growing up, one of my cousins was an out gay man.

I knew what the Dodgers uniform represented as a kid growing up in Brooklyn.

Anybody who knew me growing up calls me Vinny.